Makes me wonder, if TL gutted the organization from top to bottom, i cant see him not telling Masai to gut the team as well. I cant see him expecting his new crew to work with the same players who underperformed last year, or is he?

That is a fundamentally large decision and would have been discussed (if it was) during the Ujiri hiring interview. I find it difficult to accept that something like that would have been decided by 2 new individuals without a more in depth understanding of the assets and liabilities of the team. Once MU was hired I dont think TL would impose such basketball centric decisions. That is just not good management and todate that has not been TL's resume.

Makes me wonder, if TL gutted the organization from top to bottom, i cant see him not telling Masai to gut the team as well. I cant see him expecting his new crew to work with the same players who underperformed last year, or is he?

leiweke has already said he is not satisfied with the roster. it was actually one of the very first things he said when asked about the raptors. so you can be sure there will be major moves in a couple of weeks.

My personal theory there is that keeping Casey was a pretty good indicator that major roster moves wont happen this year. BC has severely tied the hands of Masai on that front. This will be another growth and evaluation year as a lot of people have things to prove ala the new article on the rr home page. I'm not saying anything major wont happen, just that Masai would have to win that fight with both hands tied behind his back

I don't think the fact that Casey is returning for the last year of his contract is any indication on the direction of the organization. Is it not possible that Casey is being brought back in somewhat of a lameduck role? If the goal is to gut the roster (or start a rebuild of sorts), why would you hire your ideal coach to begin this process when you can ride out the changes and then wash your hands of it by switching coaches at that time.

This is not to say that the Raptors are moving in a tear-down direction, but I don't think bringing Casey back is any confirmation either way.

leiweke has already said he is not satisfied with the roster. it was actually one of the very first things he said when asked about the raptors. so you can be sure there will be major moves in a couple of weeks.

We can't be sure of anything, thats the only thing thats for sure.

Masai's talking about high energy, youthfulness and building off the talent that we have, which could mean a whole lot of things.

But hey, the finals end tonight so very soon we'll start to see things happen at a very quick speed.

Though I would prefer a tear down and rebuild, I think that TL and MU are going the retooling route. Neither guy is known for rebuilds if I'm not mistaken unless you consider what MU did in Denver as a rebuild which I don't. Also, at the end of the day these two are reporting to someone, and Bell/Rogers doesn't have anyting to profit from a rebuild. The Jays and Leafs are an indicator that they want to win now.

Though I would prefer a tear down and rebuild, I think that TL and MU are going the retooling route. Neither guy is known for rebuilds if I'm not mistaken unless you consider what MU did in Denver as a rebuild which I don't. Also, at the end of the day these two are reporting to someone, and Bell/Rogers doesn't have anyting to profit from a rebuild. The Jays and Leafs are an indicator that they want to win now.

Denver was a complete rebuild, literally no one who was on the team when Ujiri took over was still on the team this year except Lawson. If the only player who was still a Raptor in 3 years was JV, wouldn't you say the Raptors rebuilt? If that's not a complete rebuild then I don't know what is. Ujiri was just so damn good at rebuilding that people didn't even notice the complete roster overhaul because the team kept winning.

I think right now Ujiri and Casey are just playing up the value of all of our guys in interviews (see Casey interview where he says Rudy has added 10-15lbs of upper body muscle already), to make it seem like we want to keep them so we have more leverage when trade discussions start.
I also think Leiweke and MLSE understand that getting a high draft pick in 2014 will be crucial to our long term success, so a semi-tank next year is in the teams long term financial interests. I'm not saying lets purposely lose, but lets deal our more experienced talent to contenders to bring back younger talent and draft picks. Use this season as development and hit the ground running in 2014 with our new stud rookie surrounded by other great young talent.

Denver was a complete rebuild, literally no one who was on the team when Ujiri took over was still on the team this year except Lawson. If the only player who was still a Raptor in 3 years was JV, wouldn't you say the Raptors rebuilt? If that's not a complete rebuild then I don't know what is. Ujiri was just so damn good at rebuilding that people didn't even notice the complete roster overhaul because the team kept winning.

I think right now Ujiri and Casey are just playing up the value of all of our guys in interviews (see Casey interview where he says Rudy has added 10-15lbs of upper body muscle already), to make it seem like we want to keep them so we have more leverage when trade discussions start.
I also think Leiweke and MLSE understand that getting a high draft pick in 2014 will be crucial to our long term success, so a semi-tank next year is in the teams long term financial interests. I'm not saying lets purposely lose, but lets deal our more experienced talent to contenders to bring back younger talent and draft picks. Use this season as development and hit the ground running in 2014 with our new stud rookie surrounded by other great young talent.

Sure, I see your point, however I consider a rebuilding includes drafting and developing talent. The team Ujiri constructed in Denver was largely composed of established talent.

Building a good management team by Masai & he has a very good track record. Adding the capologist expee-eert Webster looks good. Good moves, maybe we'll see bobby-ball? a strong front offcie, and more wins! There is work to be done, may they all be up to the tasks.

Raptors Add Tolzman, Resch

The Toronto Raptors announced Wednesday they have named Dan Tolzman as the club’s director of scouting and Teresa Resch as director of basketball operations.

“I am excited to welcome Dan and Teresa to our staff,” said Raptors President and General Manager, Basketball Operations Masai Ujiri. “Both possess previous experience that will prove valuable to their positions and our organization.”

Tolzman will oversee all aspects of the team’s scouting department, including college and professional scouting, talent assessment and related data management. He also will provide input on personnel and roster decisions.

Tolzman was a member of Ujiri’s staff in Denver, serving as scouting coordinator since 2011. He originally joined the Nuggets organization as a media relations intern in 2004 and was promoted to media relations manager in 2009.

Resch will serve as the liaison between basketball and team business operations. She also will assist in off-court player development projects.

Resch returns to the NBA, having spent four years at the NBA League Office from December 2006 – May 2011. While at the NBA, Resch assisted the international basketball operations department in operating Basketball without Borders Camps in four different continents and was instrumental in the establishment of the first camp to feature women campers.

In her initial role in the NBA domestic basketball operations department, Resch oversaw league roster management and operations of league sponsored events NBA All-Star Weekend, NBA Draft and NBA Draft Combine.

Depends on how ya take it! It was meant light-heartedly... just never heard of a woman in the F.O. is all, man.

All I care about it is the resume. 4 years at the head office expanding the game globally seems like decent credentials to me. Apologies that you were my target. I've recently become more aligned with feminist thinking.

The Tolzman background is a bit different. His seems to be "media relations" and the career timeline seems to suggest not that a long a period in scouting ...probably about 5 years(?). I suppose he must have impressed Masai in Denver. Never a bad thing I suppose if he goes about scouting unorthodoxly unlike the old timers.